Yankees Reliever Andrew Miller Officially off the Trade Block

Reigning 2015 American League Reliever of the Year and New York Yankees current setup man Andrew Miller was the topic of discussion when it came to Brian Cashman making a trade.

From the time the Yankees signed him to a four-year team-friendly deal at the beginning of the 2015 season up until now, the 31-year old southpaw’s name repeatedly surfaced in trade talks, especially when it came to the Yankees upgrading in the starting pitching department.

Would he complete another club’s bullpen? Would he fetch the Yankees quite the return via trade?

Absolutely.

Sure the Yankees ‘pen is capped off by the flame throwing Aroldis Chapman, and yes that guy by the name of Craig Kimbrel is pitching lights out four hours North out of the bullpen in Fenway Park, but there’s no doubt in anyones mind that at $9 million a year through 2018 and his age 34 season, Andrew Miller is the best valued reliever in the entire league.

BUT, according to Barry Bloom of MLB.com, the Yankees brass has informed Miller that he is not on the trade block.

"“The media has been throwing a few things out there, but I’ve had reassurances from them at the times I’ve talked to them that it’s something that hasn’t been discussed or planned for or anything like that,” he said. “I think that’s kind of nice.But I have no trade protection. I’m at the mercy of that what they decide to do. I get it. It’s a business. I want to be here. I want to play here. But it’s impossible to avoid sometimes.”"

Miller added:

"“There haven’t been reach-outs or anything like that. But you run into people and they tell you not to read into anything you’re hearing.”"

With the All-Star Game quickly approaching, teams often get the notion of whether or not their team will be a playoff contender. For the Yankees, outside of a second wild card slot, it’s tough to see them realistically making a run for October baseball.

They enter the Fourth of July (Happy Birthday America!) one game under .500 after nearly being swept by the San Diego Padres and 7.0 games back of the AL East leading Baltimore Orioles. Sure a second half run can solidify them a playoff berth, but that won’t happen unless they add some valuable assets at the deadline.

But if they continue to struggle and remain around the .500 mark, GM Brian Cashman has to make some decisions by the August 1st trade deadline, and while Miller was told he’s not on the trade block, that can all change in an instant